Related Links

[ EDITORIAL ]

Lakeland Police Scandals: State Of Flux

Published: Monday, November 25, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 11:57 p.m.

The Lakeland City Commission made progress toward learning more about the city's Police Department but observed failure of leadership firsthand during a meeting one week ago. The commission reviewed recommendations on the Police Department in two reports — from the Lakeland Police Advisory Commission, and from City Manager Doug Thomas and Police Chief Lisa Womack.

Part 2 of 2

The City Commission approved a process for selecting a firm to survey police employees on organizational culture, values, morale and satisfaction. It pressed for doing so quickly, which is promising.

However, City Manager Doug Thomas resisted inclusion of city commissioners during selection. After substantial discussion, he agreed to a panel of commissioners working in concert with Thomas' staff members: Commissioners Keith Merritt and Justin Troller, and Mayor-elect Howard Wiggs.

CREDIBILITY LOST

Responses from Thomas to questions from Commissioner Don Selvage made up the most concerning portion of the meeting.

Selvage spoke about the Police Advisory Commission's report.

"Processes and procedures are not the problem," Selvage said. While the procedural problems must be solved, he said, problems of leadership of the Police Department must be corrected also, including those identified by State Attorney Jerry Hill.

"We have a state attorney who said the department is in disarray and needs new leadership, and we have the media saying the same thing. We have individual commissioners and citizens echoing that," Selvage said.

He added: "There are no time lines here for outcomes and that bothers me because, every time we leap, there are new issues that come up.

"This time, it's about an officer who stonewalled … a judge, which addresses the act of culture.

"The state attorney has reported that we've lost at least 50 DUI cases because of ineptitude by our officers in front of a judge.

"We appear to be, at best, losing credibility — not only with the state attorney, but with the judges down there and, worse, creating an adversarial relationship."

PROCESS OVER PROPRIETY

Thomas replied: "I appreciate the comment, because I believe that some of the things being portrayed on the department are not necessarily accurately being portrayed. I'm not saying there has not been criticism where criticism has been required."

In the Oct. 27 case of Lakeland Police Officer Michael Kellner refusing a request from Circuit Judge James A. Yancey — relayed to Kellner by an assistant state attorney — for a probable-cause statement, Thomas made excuses:

"There has been an approved process of saying, if in fact you have DUIs and you have the blowing of two different above-the-limit breathalyzer exams, there are policies in place — as I have been led to understand — that the presiding judge and the State Attorney's Office says that serve as probable cause. And so the department was following this."

Thomas added: "I think you heard me and you heard the department say, if the judge asked for it, you respond to it. But there's also a process that has in fact been endorsed that was exactly what was done."

Selvage said: "The officer's email certainly did not convey that sense of respect that you're giving to it now.

"When I was a kid, I was taught to obey — without question — teachers, police officers and judges.

"So, why in the world — given what's going on in the Police Department — with an officer not quickly saying, 'Aye, aye sir, I'll get that for you as quickly as we can'? You're minimizing, in my opinion, the aspect of culture."

Selvage is right.

Lakeland needs leaders who will correct such a disrespectful approach, not make excuses for it.

Neither Thomas nor Womack, who have worked hand-in-hand, have succeeded in solving the Police Department's many problems.

The City Commission should fire Thomas and ensure that Womack is fired. That would allow for the hiring of replacements to make sure the Police Department operates properly.

<p>The Lakeland City Commission made progress toward learning more about the city's Police Department but observed failure of leadership firsthand during a meeting one week ago. The commission reviewed recommendations on the Police Department in two reports — from the Lakeland Police Advisory Commission, and from City Manager Doug Thomas and Police Chief Lisa Womack.</p><p><center><i>Part 2 of 2</i></center></p><p>The City Commission approved a process for selecting a firm to survey police employees on organizational culture, values, morale and satisfaction. It pressed for doing so quickly, which is promising.</p><p>However, City Manager Doug Thomas resisted inclusion of city commissioners during selection. After substantial discussion, he agreed to a panel of commissioners working in concert with Thomas' staff members: Commissioners Keith Merritt and Justin Troller, and Mayor-elect Howard Wiggs.</p><p><b>CREDIBILITY LOST</b></p><p>Responses from Thomas to questions from Commissioner Don Selvage made up the most concerning portion of the meeting.</p><p>Selvage spoke about the Police Advisory Commission's report.</p><p>"Processes and procedures are not the problem," Selvage said. While the procedural problems must be solved, he said, problems of leadership of the Police Department must be corrected also, including those identified by State Attorney Jerry Hill.</p><p>"We have a state attorney who said the department is in disarray and needs new leadership, and we have the media saying the same thing. We have individual commissioners and citizens echoing that," Selvage said.</p><p>He added: "There are no time lines here for outcomes and that bothers me because, every time we leap, there are new issues that come up.</p><p>"This time, it's about an officer who stonewalled … a judge, which addresses the act of culture.</p><p>"The state attorney has reported that we've lost at least 50 DUI cases because of ineptitude by our officers in front of a judge.</p><p>"We appear to be, at best, losing credibility — not only with the state attorney, but with the judges down there and, worse, creating an adversarial relationship."</p><p><b>PROCESS OVER PROPRIETY</b></p><p>Thomas replied: "I appreciate the comment, because I believe that some of the things being portrayed on the department are not necessarily accurately being portrayed. I'm not saying there has not been criticism where criticism has been required."</p><p>In the Oct. 27 case of Lakeland Police Officer Michael Kellner refusing a request from Circuit Judge James A. Yancey — relayed to Kellner by an assistant state attorney — for a probable-cause statement, Thomas made excuses:</p><p>"There has been an approved process of saying, if in fact you have DUIs and you have the blowing of two different above-the-limit breathalyzer exams, there are policies in place — as I have been led to understand — that the presiding judge and the State Attorney's Office says that serve as probable cause. And so the department was following this."</p><p>Thomas added: "I think you heard me and you heard the department say, if the judge asked for it, you respond to it. But there's also a process that has in fact been endorsed that was exactly what was done."</p><p>Selvage said: "The officer's email certainly did not convey that sense of respect that you're giving to it now.</p><p>"When I was a kid, I was taught to obey — without question — teachers, police officers and judges.</p><p>"So, why in the world — given what's going on in the Police Department — with an officer not quickly saying, 'Aye, aye sir, I'll get that for you as quickly as we can'? You're minimizing, in my opinion, the aspect of culture."</p><p>Selvage is right.</p><p>Lakeland needs leaders who will correct such a disrespectful approach, not make excuses for it.</p><p>Neither Thomas nor Womack, who have worked hand-in-hand, have succeeded in solving the Police Department's many problems.</p><p>The City Commission should fire Thomas and ensure that Womack is fired. That would allow for the hiring of replacements to make sure the Police Department operates properly.</p>